1959 AMC Rambler Six Custom

"Mabel"

I purchased the Rambler in September, 2009 and sold her in August, 2010. It had been parked for 8 years under the previous owner, and a few more before that. After two work days, and some help from my friends at Rocket Motors, the Rambler was able to start and drive a short distance. However, I became more involved with my other projects, so I passed Mabel on to a new owner.When I first met the folks at Rocket Motors, I took a look at their cars and found the Rambler sitting in overgrown grass under a tree. I liked her immediately. My then-girlfriend had a Rambler, plus this car was very rust free and complete, had tail fins, and I had never seen one of that vintage before. I put the Rambler on my "future projects" list. Several months later I had some money saved up and...well, I bought her!

Reviving the motor was pretty straightforward and only took TWO work days (plus lots of planning)!

The first day, we checked the valves, straightened out a pushrod, looked at the cam, put ATF in the cylinders to make sure it wouldn't seize, and took off the carburetor.

The next work day I changed the drive belt, bolted a shiny rebuilt carburetor on, changed the oil, checked the plugs, filled the radiator, and put a fresh battery in.

The car doesn't have keys, so we had to hotwire it, but the motor spun over quite happily. Then we hooked up an auxilliary gas can and the Rambler started with no problem! After a little carburetor adjustment, she was idling smooth as she did in 1959. We actually drove her in a few circles, despite no brakes and only 2nd and 3rd gear!

Next I took a shot at the brakes, replacing the master cylinder, rebuilding front wheel cylinders and replacing the rear wheel cylinders. After bleeding the system, the brakes seemed to work.

Then I removed the gas tank, had it boiled and cleaned, inspected and cleaned the fuel pump and replaced several lines and hoses. It's really important that the fuel delivery system is clean.

That was the simple stuff. Now she needed the transmission linkage fixed, new tires, interior work, etc. Since I had taken on the pair of 1960 Cadillacs, I put Mabel up for sale. I set out to save her, and felt that I have taken major steps in that direction. Like Elite 121B, I have to leave the rest for someone else, and focus on fixing my other cars!

Mid August 2010 I sold the car on Ebay, but after making arrangements, the buyer cancelled the sale. I was moving in a few days, so I frantically put Mabel up on Craigslist. I barely got half as much money as I had invested in her.

An enthusiastic kid named Robin bought her to be his first project car. He stripped some of the bad interior parts and started prepping her for a repaint. She was even running for a bit, until the fuel pump started to go and she some electrical problems. He sold her again, to a reputable character named Fast Eddy, who got the mechanicals straightened out and painted her satin black. Last I heard, they are prowling the streets somewhere in New York...

Many thanks to my dad, and Rockey and Colin at Rocket Motors for their generous help throughout!